Growing Need

[Unkotare]

Teachers Say They Need More Support for English Learners, Survey Finds

An analysis of EdWeek Research Center survey data found gaps in teachers' English-learner training.

www.edweek.org

Demand for trained, expert services for non-native English speaking students is on the rise. I can't tell you how many main-stream subject area teachers have come to me over the years asking for tips, approaches, and support in working with such students in classes such as Math, History, ELA, etc. Nowadays, Most districts require SEI certification for subject-area teachers, but there's a lot more to it than just that covers.

 

[OKTexas]

Teachers Say They Need More Support for English Learners, Survey Finds

An analysis of EdWeek Research Center survey data found gaps in teachers' English-learner training.

www.edweek.org

Demand for trained, expert services for non-native English speaking students is on the rise. I can't tell you how many main-stream subject area teachers have come to me over the years asking for tips, approaches, and support in working with such students in classes such as Math, History, ELA, etc. Nowadays, Most districts require SEI certification for subject-area teachers, but there's a lot more to it than just that covers.

Honestly I don't care, let them learn the language though cultural emersion. Or let the parents pay to send them to a school that specializes in their native language. Everyday Americans shouldn't have to pay higher taxes to support foreign speakers.

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[Unkotare]

Honestly I don't care...

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Yes you do.

 

[there4eyeM]

It is true to say that learning correct English in American schools should not require increased costs.

 

[OKTexas]

Yes you do.

Why do you say that, I explained why I don't. Of course you violated the rules by deleting the context of what I said.

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[Unkotare]

It is true to say that learning correct English in American schools should not require increased costs.

And it doesn't.

 

[Unkotare]

...Everyday Americans shouldn't have to pay higher taxes to support foreign speakers.

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The vast majority of ESL students ARE "everyday Americans."

 

[Unkotare]

Why do you say that,....

Because you want more people capable of communicating in English (and other languages). Just like you want more people capable of using and understanding math, science, history, etc.

 

[OKTexas]

The vast majority of ESL students ARE "everyday Americans."

If that were true there would no need for ESL.

 

[Unkotare]

If that were true there would no need for ESL.

Why?

 

[OKTexas]

Why?

Simple, they would be taught the predominate language from birth.

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[Jarlaxle]

Yes you do.

Really, Nostradumbass?

Why do you say that, I explained why I don't. Of course you violated the rules by deleting the context of what I said.

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Because rules don't apply to some people, and he thinks he's a mind reader.

 

[OKTexas]

Really, Nostradumbass?

Because rules don't apply to some people, and he thinks he's a mind reader.

I've supported other peoples rug rats my whole working life and now that I'm retired they still want me to pay to teach foreigners the damn language, screw'em.

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[Unkotare]

I've supported other peoples rug rats my whole working life and now that I'm retired they still want me to pay to teach foreigners the damn language, screw'em.

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How about teaching Americans, which most of them are.

 

[Foxfyre]

Honestly I don't care, let them learn the language though cultural emersion. Or let the parents pay to send them to a school that specializes in their native language. Everyday Americans shouldn't have to pay higher taxes to support foreign speakers.

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Maybe it's harsh to say you don't care. But not so harsh to say that requiring new immigrants to learn English and to learn English at THEIR expense or via a responsible sponsor should be the rule.

It is discriminatory in my opinion that only Spanish speaking students should be accommodated in the public schools at taxpayer expense when there are thousands of languages spoken on Earth. And even if we go with the major languages, it is still unreasonable to require the public schools to be equipped to teach Chinese, Spanish, French, Hindi or whatever.

Prior to 1968, I suppose there were some schools that already had proficient Spanish teachers that accommodated a large influx of Cuban refugee students but those were isolated incidents. For the most part new immigrants were to either be self sufficient and competent in English when they arrived or have private sponsors who would walk them through the assimilation process including finding tutors to teach them English.

That should still be the general rule.

I was very young but privileged to help our Church in West Texas sponsor a wonderful Cuban refugee family. Cuban born people are very rare in West Texas. We started out with my very limited Santa Fe street Spanish and our Pastor's French, English to Spanish books and vice versa but this was extremely tedious to help the family, a mother, father and two elementary age children become fluent.

We located a family immigrated from Mexico who did speak Spanish and they agreed to help and helped enormously even though their Mexican dialect varied at times from the Castilian Spanish the Cubans spoke. But work ethic and determination is the key to doing anything difficult and all the Cubans were speaking decent English within the year and the kids were able to go to public school and were quite successful there. Both the parents were college educated in Cuba and by the time they were sworn in as citizens, the father soon qualified to be certified to teach in the public schools and the mom became a school librarian.

We should expect new immigrants to be that kind of asset to America and not a burden on the taxpayers.

 

[Unkotare]

Maybe it's harsh to say you don't care. But not so harsh to say that requiring new immigrants to learn English and to learn English at THEIR expense ...

Again, THE MAJORITY OF ESL STUDENTS IN AMERICA'S PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE NATURAL BORN CITIZENS. How many times do I have to repeat this?

 

[Foxfyre]

Again, THE MAJORITY OF ESL STUDENTS IN AMERICA'S PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE NATURAL BORN CITIZENS. How many times do I have to repeat this?

That should not be the case. Natural born citizens should be born to parents who are fluent in English.

 

[Unkotare]

That should not be the case. Natural born citizens should be born to parents who are fluent in English.

"Should"?
Wtf?
You realize there is no law requiring a US citizen to speak English, right?
Some people love to shake their fists and shout "them damn furunurs!" all the time, but we are talking about educating American students in American schools.

 

[Foxfyre]

"Should"?
Wtf?
You realize there is no law requiring a US citizen to speak English, right?
Some people love to shake their fists and shout "them damn furunurs!" all the time, but we are talking about educating American students in American schools.

What is and what should be are often two different things.

American citizens should be able to read and understand sufficient English in order to do business, be advised of warnings, be able to follow directions, read road signs, etc. That should be the law for the benefit of everybody including those who need to learn English.

Visitors, new immigrants, or even citizens who have not yet become sufficiently proficient in English should not have drivers' licenses or otherwise be permitted to drive or otherwise operate vehicles/equipment that could put others at risk.

The fact that it isn't the law means that the law should be changed as quickly as possible. Otherwise the American people are put at unnecessary risk and the issues in your OP will only become worse and worse.

 

[OKTexas]

How about teaching Americans, which most of them are.

School aged Americans should already know the language. If they don't, that's the parents responsibility, not mine.

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